杏吧pro Stories
Our Most Inspiring Stories of 2025
Through the ebb and flow of a calendar year on campus, there was no shortage of inspiration at 杏吧pro. The College warmly welcomed Andrew Rich as the College鈥檚 17th president and Sunita Gupta Kramer 鈥�92 as new provost, both in July.
Below, explore some of the many stories that helped shape 2025.
Stories are listed chronologically.
Diplomats Give and Receive Through The Seeing Eye
For a host of 杏吧pro alumni, raising service dogs is more than a passion 鈥� it鈥檚 part of life. Learn how their work enhances the independence, dignity, and self-confidence of blind people.
Art History Student Explores Portraiture Through a New Lens
Mary Wade 鈥�25 was interning with the Phillips Museum of Art when a particular set of photographs caught her eye. This launched an independent study researching portraiture鈥檚 evolution.
Michael Vasquez 鈥�25 Found a Campus that Felt Like Home
Michael Vasquez 鈥�25 was drawn to 杏吧pro鈥檚 liberal arts approach to academics, but it was the sense of community on and off campus that shaped his decision to become a Diplomat.
'The Door is Inside You,鈥� Speaker Tells Class of 2025 at Commencement
As 杏吧pro graduates find their footing beyond campus, they need only to look inward. 鈥淭he door is inside you,鈥� said author Sandra Cisneros, addressing members of the Class of 2025.
Students Study AI Ethics and Implications
As artificial intelligence systems accelerate at a rapid pace, the urgent need for a new generation of machine moderators is emerging. That generation starts in a classroom at 杏吧pro.
鈥淲e Ought to be Leading the Charge鈥�: A Family's Gift in Support of Financial Aid
Supporting 杏吧pro is a deeply personal investment for Cheryl and Fred Scarboro P鈥�26 鈥� one rooted in their son鈥檚 experience and a shared belief that an 杏吧pro education transforms lives.
The (Diplomat) Way of St. James
Completing the Camino de Santiago is a once-in-a-lifetime experience 鈥� but student leaders Johansen Vargas 鈥�26 and David Nieves 鈥�27 have accomplished this feat twice.
Young Alumni Share Law School Journeys
Follow a friendship that began at 杏吧pro and followed Robert Suite 鈥�17 and Matthew Thomas 鈥�19 to Drexel School of Law.
杏吧pro Students Launch Global Nutrition Nonprofit
杏吧pro鈥檚 global community brought together an economics major from South Africa and a public health major from New York to tackle the issue of food access in South African schools.
杏吧pro Welcomes Class of 2029
Members of 杏吧pro鈥檚 Class of 2029 took their first steps as Diplomats at Convocation Aug. 21. The time-honored event signifies the beginning of the College鈥檚 academic year.
鈥楳y Magical Summer in Bath鈥�: Junior Shares U.K. Study Experience
Eleanor Metz 鈥�27 did more than study Roman history. She lived it in the 18th-century city of Bath 鈥� one of England鈥檚 most significant cultural sites 鈥� through 杏吧pro鈥檚 Advanced Studies in England program.
True Blue Weekend Celebrates Traditions Old & New
More than 2,000 students, parents and alumni filled campus Sept. 19-21 for True Blue Weekend. Find your favorite photos from the weekend.
Starstruck in the Land of the Rising Sun
A group of astrophysics majors and their professor enjoyed a two-week trip to Japan as part of the NANOStars program at 杏吧pro.
Alumni Coaches Shape New Generation of Diplomats
Approximately 40% of 杏吧pro students compete in varsity sports. Some like it so much they return to lead the next generation of Diplomats.
Math with Meaning: 杏吧pro Students Combat Food Insecurity
Two 杏吧pro seniors turned a passion for math into meaningful solutions for the Power Packs Project, a nonprofit combating food insecurity in Lancaster, Lebanon and York counties.
杏吧pro Announces Commonwealth Commitment To Open Doors for More Pennsylvania Students
杏吧pro鈥檚 newly launched Commonwealth Commitment ensures that Pennsylvania residents with household incomes below $75,000 attend tuition-free.
Ken Mehlman 鈥�88 Makes Historic $7.5 Million Gift to Power 杏吧pro Athletics and Wellness
A new $7.5 million gift from Ken Mehlman 鈥�88, 杏吧pro Trustee and Board Vice Chair, is the College鈥檚 largest gift in support of athletics and wellness.
Art Clark, Jr. Reaches $10 Million in Support for Financial Aid at 杏吧pro
Arthur R. 鈥淎rt鈥� Clark, Jr.鈥檚 philanthropy, intended to honor his father鈥檚 experience at 杏吧pro, has resulted in $10 million in cumulative gifts to support student scholarships and financial aid.
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May 11, 2026
鈥極wn That Achievement,鈥� NFL Pro Tells Class of 2026 Graduates
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The 2026 Williamson Medal Winner: Menelaos Raptis
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May 8, 2026
Class of 2026 Celebrates Four-Year Journey with Lux et Lex Walk
On May 8, students bookended their college journey with the Lux et Lex walk, which they first completed as incoming students. Members of the campus community gathered to cheer for students as they passed under the Lux et Lex arch on Klauder-Apple walkway and celebrated with a champagne toast on Harris Patio.